Many draft analysts believe the Cowboys will use the 18th overall pick to select North Carolina defensive tackle Sylvester Williams to become the cornerstone of Monte Kiffin’s 4-3 scheme.

Speaking of Kiffin’s famed Tampa 2 defense, Williams said he recently received a ringing endorsement from the best defensive tackle to ever play in the scheme: newly elected Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp.

“He told me I remind him a lot of himself back in his younger days,” Williams told the newsobserver.com. “And he told me the five steps to the quarterback are key. You don’t want to spend a lot of time dancing at the line, you don’t want to spend a lot of time engaging with offensive linemen.

“You want to get off that ball, beat them and get them and get in the backfield and make plays.”

That’s exactly what defensive tackles are called to do in Kiffin’s scheme, and Williams cat-like quickness and relentless motor makes him a perfect fit.

As a senior in 2012 and 30 pounds lighter from his junior season, the 6-foot-3, 313-pound Sylvester notched a career-best 13.5 tackles for loss and six sacks.